- Fire started on stretch between Jeddah and Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia, earlier today
- French driver Romain Dumas at the helm alongside co-driver Alexandre Winocq
- Plumes of black smoke billowed into air as the drivers sat and watched helplessly
A racing buggy burst into flames just 65 kilometers into its first race as its driver and navigator managed to escape unscathed.
The RD DXX Limited racing buggy burst into flames just 65 kilometres into its first ride as its driver and co-driver managed to escape unscathed
The incident took place during Stage One of the Dakar 2020 rally between Jeddah and Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia, earlier today
The drivers were forced to stop and jump out of the burning car as medical teams rushed to the scene
It had been the debut for the RD DXX Limited buggy which burst into flames just 65 kilometres into its first ride.
The drivers were forced to stop and jump out of the burning car as medical teams rushed to the scene.
Dumas, who had the start to his fourth Dakar season cut short, spoke after the race to say that he and his co-driver both escaped unscathed.
The new vehicle (pictured before the race) had French driver Romain Dumas at the helm alongside co-driver Alexandre Winocq
The 42-year-old, who currently races for Porsche, has a whole host of accolades to his name including being a four-time winner of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
The Dakar is the second largest motorsport in the world, according to its official website.
There were 543 registered competitors across five categories in the 2019 event which was broadcast across 190 countries.
Source: Daily Mail , UK